Publisher's Description

▼▲

Every year, we say were going to cut back, simplify, and have a family Christmas that focuses on the real reason for the seasonJesus. But every year, advertisements beckon, the children plead, and it seems easier just to indulge our wants and whims. Overspending, overeating, materialism, and busyness rob us of our peace and joy and rob Jesus of his rightful role as the center of our celebration. This Christmas, cut through the hype that leaves you exhausted and broke at the end of the year. Instead, experience the peace of knowing that God is truly with us, the joy of giving sacrificially, and the love of a Savior who gave everything he had for us. In five short, engaging chapters, Pastor Mike Slaughter inspires readers to approach Christmas differently, and be transformed in the process.

Author Bio

▼▲

Mike Slaughter is the Pastor Emeritus at Ginghamsburg Church. Under his leadership, Ginghamsburg Church has become known as an early innovator of small group ministry, the Church "media reformation," and cyber-ministry. Mike is the author of multiple books for church leaders, including Down to Earth, The Passionate Church, Change the World, Dare to Dream, Renegade Gospel, A Different Kind of Christmas, Spiritual Entrepreneurs, Real Followers, Momentum for Life, UnLearning Church, and Upside Living in a Downside Economy.

I am reluctant to provide a less-than-positive review of another person's work. Yet, I am unwilling to mislead people about my reaction to what I consider to be a mediocre work at best. The title is promising, "Christmas Is Not Your Birthday." The chapter headings are promising. The professional review is promising. But, I found the content of the book to be disappointing, not at all what I was expecting, and certainly not fulfilling a promise to show a better way to do Christmas. For me personally, there is something lacking in the writing style which caused the material to come across to me as dry, boring, and disjointed. The title of the book and the chapter titles seemed to be disconnected from the content, and therefore misleading. There seemed to me to be something lacking in the organization of the material as well, as if bits and pieces of other writings were put together haphazardly to create a theme that never really emerged. The result is a rambling style of writing that failed to deliver on the promises made.

For a slight few , this title actually isn't the truth as for a few people their actual birthdays do fall on Christmas day, but for those who don't this book is for you . We all live in the Western society where Christmas has become something where we all buy presents for one another and soon Christmas becomes a big money pit and we start to forget that the real reason we celebrate Christmas is because of Jesus and his day he was born into the world from Mary and Joseph.

Christmas is not your Birthday takes us back into the word of God and reminds us all that Christmas is really about experiencing the joy of Living and giving with Jesus Christ. Reading this book it aims to help you reclaim the broader missional meaning of Jesus' birth and experience a Christmas season with more peace and joy than any toy or gadget could ever bring.

I know that many families tend to spend thousands at Christmas Time as thats also when sales occur but reading the following figures in Christmas is not your Birthday , it amazed me how much we really spend as families at Christmas time .

According to the National Retail Federation, as of 2010, adult consumers spent an average of $830 each on holiday food, decorations, and presents. In a two-parent family, that equates to roughly $1,660.1 Now add this cost to the average American household credit card balance of $15,788 with an annual percentage rate of 14.67.

As this is a Christian Non-Fiction , throughout the book is bible verses including:

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant."(Luke 1:46-48)

Again, as usual this book has at the end of each chapter , reflection questions for you to answer and simply as the name suggests "reflect on".

After you read this book, think "How will you celebrate Christmas this Year "?